"But frankly," she added, "how many more of these reports do we need before the government actually starts adopting some of these policies? How many more kids will start on a lifetime of disease before the nation starts treating this epidemic like an epidemic? It's time for action."

Mary C. Sophos, senior vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, said the food industry is reformulating products to reduce calories, fat and salt and is offering smaller package sizes.

"To achieve successful behavioral change, we will need to emphasize positive, motivational messages and tools across society, rather than relying on restrictions or negative messages," she said.

Robert Earl of the National Food Processors Association also noted changes being made by food manufacturers, and added: "The food industry also supports programs to promote physical activity among children. This report emphasizes the importance of including physical activity in any effort to address obesity - at school, at home, and in communities."

Dr. Thomas N. Robinson of Stanford University, a member of the committee that prepared the report, said that many health care providers are worried about the future as obese children age and adult chronic diseases are beginning in the teen years and younger. "Everything is affected by overweight," he said.

The report from the IOM, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, is the latest to focus on childhood obesity. Over the last 30 years the rate of childhood obesity has tripled among youngsters aged 6 to 11 and has doubled for those aged 2 to 5 and 12 to 19, the institute reported.

Obesity can lead to increased likelihood of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep problems, high cholesterol, gallstones and other problems.

Specifically, the panel suggested that parents limit kids' TV hours, that schools provide healthier food, that restaurants offer nutrition information and that communities provide more recreation opportunities.

The IOM report calls for increased federal involvement, including creation of an interdepartmental task force to coordinate activities, developing nutrition standards for school food, setting guidelines for advertising and marketing to children and increases in research funding.
-----

On the Net:

Institute of Medicine

More science, space, and technology from RedNova

Copyright © 2004 The Associated Press